Ray’s Story
As a busy CEO for First Southern Bank in Marion, Illinois, Ray never stopped to think he could be sidelined by a chronic disease. Yet something loomed odd in his daily life that he couldn’t shake.
When Ray’s began experiencing chronic fatigue and radiating joint pain, he thought he might just be stressed. But when his symptoms moved past the point of annoying to alarming, he knew it was time to see a doctor. In September 2014, Ray’s was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). He knew this was not a simple battle of aches and pains, but a real fight against an incurable and progressive autoimmune disease.
Ray recognized this as a very serious form of arthritis. The medical merry-go-round had begun. Medical protocol of the chemo drug methotrexate was too harsh, and the side effects were intolerable. Ray endured many changes in treatments.
Today, Ray considers himself to be fortunate. Thanks to significant progress in drug therapies and cutting-edge immune therapies, Ray is managing his RA. Ray has joined the fight being led by the Arthritis Foundation. He chooses to have a positive outlook and hopes continued research will lead to a cure.
Ray recognized this as a very serious form of arthritis. The medical merry-go-round had begun. Medical protocol of the chemo drug methotrexate was too harsh, and the side effects were intolerable. Ray endured many changes in treatments.
Today, Ray considers himself to be fortunate. Thanks to significant progress in drug therapies and cutting-edge immune therapies, Ray is managing his RA. Ray has joined the fight being led by the Arthritis Foundation. He chooses to have a positive outlook and hopes continued research will lead to a cure.